2009-222FILE REFERENCE FORM 2009-222
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Amended by Ordinance No. 2010-232 09/21/10 )R
GRDINANCE NO.20D9-
AN GRDINANCE DF THE CITY OF DENTGN, TEXAS PROVIDING FGR THE
SCHEDULE GF MISCELLANEOUS FEES, DEPOSITS, BILLINGS AND PROCEDURES
FGR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TG CITY UTILITIES CUSTOMERS CGNTAINED IN
ORDINANCE NO. 2008-21 G; ADDING A NE~V CUSTOMER APPLICATION CHARGE;
AMENDING SECITON 26-3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE DEPOSITS; PROVIDING FOR A REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTGN HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That the schedule of charges for general utility services as generally
provided for in Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances; and for services to other City of Denton
customers and taxpayers, are hereby established as follows:
SERVICE CHARGES AND PRGCEDURES SCHEDULES
A. ACCOUNT CONNECTION AND RECONNECTION CHARGES PAGE
Meter Connection Charge 3
Meter Reconnection Process Charge 3
Unauthorized Usage Penalty 4
New Customer Application Charge 4
B. METER CHARGES
Meter Reading ~
Meter Testing 5
Meter Tampering andlor Damage Charge 5
Meter Inaccessibility Charge 6
C. MISCELLANEOUS FEES, CHARGES _AND DEPOSITS
Returned Payment Charge 7
Service Deposits 7
Waiver of Service Deposits $
1
Late Payment Charge Due on Delinquent Balances S
Interest Charge on Past Due Account Balance 9
Credit Report Charge 9
Interest Earned on Contract Retainage 9
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ACCOUNT CONNECTION AND RECONNECTION PROCESS CHARGES
Effective 10101109}
For the purposes of this rate schedule, business hours shall be defined as Monday through
Friday, B:OD AM to 5:D0 PM.
METER CONNECTION CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer requests service on a first time basis where no permanent service
previously existed and where a new account number is established or, when a customer requests
service at an address which has existing or previous service, with an existing account number
and history, and the electric andlor water meter must be installed or activated for readiness.
CHARGE
First Service Requested $22.DD
First Service Requested, guaranteed $SS.DO
same day service
First Service Requested, after $55.00
business hours
METER RECONNECTION PROCESS CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer's account is processed far disconnection due to nonpayment.
CHARGE
Meter Reconnection Processing Charge $ 30.00
When service is disconnected at the meter socket}
Meter Reconnection Charge $110.00
When service is disconnected at the transformer}
Reconnect Charge, guaranteed same day service
~In addition to normal reconnect charges} $ 55.x0
Reconnect Charge, after business hours
When service is disconnected at the meter socket} $ 55.00
Reconnect Charge, guaranteed same day service
when service is disconnected at the transformer} $145.00
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Reconnect Charge, after business hours
(When service is disconnected at the transformer} $145.00
When more than one trip, within twenty-four X24} hours, is required to restore a customer's
service, a Return Trip Charge, in addition to the Reconnection Charge, shall be applied for each
additional trip.
Return Trip Charge during business hours $30.00
Return Trip Charge after business hours $55.00
UNAUTHORIZED USAGE PENALTY
APPLICATION
Applicable to any customer that fails to request connection of services within 24 hours of
occupancy in a new service location.
CHARGE
Unauthorized Usage Penalty $30.00
NEW CUSTOMER APPLICATION FEE
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer requests new service or is added to an existing account and provides
Social Security information to verify identity and credit history.
CHARGE
New Customer Application Charge - per person $ 3.00
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METER CHARGES
Effective 10101109}
METER READING
APPLICATION
Applicable to any electric or water utility customer who requests a reading of a city meter due to
a contested billing more than twice in the previous twelve ~ 12}months, and no error is found.
CHARGE
Per Additional Reading $25.00
METER TESTING
APPLICATIGN
Applicable to any customer who requests the testing of a city meter previously tested within the
past four ~4} years and the meter is found to be within accuracy standards.
CHARGE
Per Test $27.OOIKWH Electric Meter
$38.OOIKWIKVVH Electric Meter
ACCURACY STANDARDS
A meter is defined as within accuracy standards when found to be plus or minus two percent
~2%} or less.
METER TAMPERING ANDIGR DAMAGE CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable to any person that tampers with, damages, or illegally connects to a city electric,
water, or wastewater utility system.
CHARGE
Per Event $200.00 minimum per connection per system
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METER INACCESSIBILITY CHARGE
APPLICATIGN
Applicable to any customer who prevents the regular and routine reading, maintenance, repair or
removal of any city meter due to inaccessibility ofthe meter.
CHARGE
Per event $3 8.00
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MISCELLANEGUS FEES, CHARGES,.AN_D DEPOSITS
Effective 10101109}
RETURNED PAYMENT CHARGE
APPLICATIGN
Applicable when a customer's or taxpayer's check, or money order, or bank draft for payment of
fees, fines, court costs, taxes, utilities, or other charges has been dishonored by the maker's bank
and returned to the City of Denton unpaid.
CHARGE
Per Check $27.00
SERVICE DEPOSITS
APPLICATION
Applicable when a residential customer requests utility service in the City of Denton service area
and does not have twelve ~ 12} months of good credit standing with the City of Denton or another
utility system for the type of service requested, or does not have a co-signer with twelve ~ 12}
months of good credit standing with the City of Denton, or does not request and demonstrate a
passing credit rating through a credit reporting agency.
Applicable when a commercial customer does not have twenty-four X24} months of good credit
standing with the City of Denton, or a commercial letter of good credit from another utility
system. Not applicable when a commercial customer provides an irrevocable letter of credit to
the City of Denton as security for payment.
CHARGE
Residential Customer $150.00 or an amount equal to 116 of the last
12 months of billing at the service location,
whichever is greater. If utility service is
disconnected for non-payment, then the
customer will be required to pay a deposit
sum equal to 116 of the last 12 months of
billing at the service location.
Commercial .Customer $300.00 or an amount equal to 116 of the last
12 months of billing at the service location,
whichever is greater. If utility service is
disconnected for non-payment, then the
customer will be required to pay a deposit
sum equal to 116 of the last 12 months of
billing at the service location.
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Deposits will earn interest for the customer. The applicable rate of interest will be adjusted
semi-annually to equal the rate of aone-year United States Treasury Note on October 1 and April
1 of each year. If refund of deposit is made within t'rty X30} days of receipt of deposit, no
interest payment will be made. If the City retains the deposit more than thirty ~30~ days,
payment of interest, at the current rate, shall be made retroactive to the date the deposit was paid,
A. Payment of the interest to the customer shall be made at the time the deposit is returned
or credited to the customer's account.
B. The deposit shall cease to earn interest on the date it is returned or credited to the
customer's account.
WAIVER 4F SERVICE DEPOSITS
APPLICATION
Applicable when an Applicant is a citizen of the City of Denton, Texas and who also is a "victim
of family violence," applies for utility service in the City of Denton, Texas. To be a qualified as
a "victim of family violence" an Applicant must secure and provide a certification letter,
provided by one of the certifying entities to the Utilities Customer Service Department.
If a proper, dated and completed certification letter is presented by or on behalf of the Applicant
to the Utilities Customer Service Department, and its issuance is verified by the Utilities
Customer Service Department, then the requirement of a utility deposit shall be waived for that
Applicant. This provision is applicable solely to "victims of family violence" as defined by
Texas Family Code, §71.004, as amended. No other relief from the City's utility rates, or
deposits, or charges, or fees is hereby provided to "victims of family violence."
LATE PAYMENT CHARGE DUE DN DELIN DENT BALANCES
APPLICATION
To cover a portion of the administrative costs of collecting past due balances, a late payment charge shall be assessed on the fifth business day fallowing the due date.
CHARGE $10.00 late payment charge
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INTEREST CHARGE ON PAST DUE ACCOUNT BALANCE
APPLICATION
Interest shall be assessed on any past due account balance (excluding late payment charges) that
remains unpaid at the time of the current month's billing calculation. The interest provided for
and assessed herein shall be due and payable on the due date of the current month's billing
statement.
CHARGE 1% / month on all past due charges and account balances
unpaid at the time of the current month's billing
calculation.
"Under no circumstances shall the interest charge provided for herein exceed the legal rate of interest. To the extent that it
does so, the charge is inadvertent, and the City intends only to assess, charge and collect such interest rate that does not exceed
the highest lawful rate.
CREDIT REPORT CHARGE
APPLICATION
This fee is applicable if the customer: (a) cannot provide a satisfactory credit rating through
previous service history with Denton Municipal Utilities or another utility service; or (b) cannot
provide the city with a qualified co-signer, and (c) provides written authorization for the city to
obtain a credit rating from a credit source available to the city.
CHARGE
Charge per credit report $13.00
INTEREST EARNED ON CONTRACT RETAINAGE
Contract retainage will earn interest for the contractor as provided by TEX. REV. CIV. STAY
ANN. Article 6252, Sec.5b (Vernon Supp. 1992). The rate of interest will be adjusted semi-
annually to equal the interest rate of a one year United States Treasury Note on October 1 and
April 1 of each year. Payment of the interest shall be made at the time the retainage is paid to the
contractor.
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SECTION 2. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in force when the provisions of
this ordinance became effective which are inconsistent, or in conflict with the terms or
provisions contained in this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
SECTION 3. That if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or
word in this ordinance, or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this ordinance, and the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas, hereby declares it
would have enacted such remaining portions despite any such invalidity.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall become effective, charged, and applied to all
services occurring on and after October 1, 2009; and a copy of said fees and charges shall be
maintained on file in the Office of the City Secretary of Denton, Texas.
l~ ~ ~ v,,~ / f
PASSED AND APPROVED this the ~ day of , X009.
MARK A. BURROUGHS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
}
~ M y, : s J r
`E
I
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
ANITA BURGES S, CITY ATTORNEY
~
By:
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